The city of Bern was founded on the River Aare in 1191 by Duke Berthold V of Zahringen.The legend says that he named it after a bear (bar in German) he had killed while out hunting. The bear also appears on the city's coat of arms since 1224 and is the symbol of Bern, Switzerland's capital. Bern is situated on a picturesque promontory surrounded on three sides by a bend in the river. The old battlements of the city, converted into promenades, offer a superb view of the surrounding alpine scenery.

     Today Bern's old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because its street plan and architecture are mostly unchanged since the late Middle Ages. Though restored in the eighteenth century, the city has retained all its original charm.

     Bern's most notable buildings include the 15th century town hall and the Gothic cathedral, the Berner Munster, with the tallest tower in Switzerland. The Rosengarten, a former cemetery on a hill overlooking the old town, offers panoramic views of this beautiful Switzerland capital. Starting with the 16th century, the city has had a bear pit (the Barengraben), which can be visited off the far end of the Nydeggbrucke.

     One of the most famous attractions in Bern is the Zytglogge, a clock tower in the center of the old town. Since it was built at the beginning of the 13th century, it has served as prison, guard tower, clock tower, center of urban life. Today it is very famous for its 15th century astronomical clock, the benchmark of official Bern time. It features an intricate astronomical and astrological device, which displays a 24-hour clock, the 12 hours of daylight, the position of the sun in the zodiac, the day of the week, the date and the month, and others.
Before each hour is struck, mechanical figures appear, including a parade of bears or Chronos with his hourglass. Tourists can go on guided tours to see the internal workings of the clock, and enjoy the rooftop view.